About
Sarracenia purpurea, the common pitcher plant, is an evergreen, semi-erect, insectivorous perennial to 30 cm. Squat, green pitchers to 15 cm long, flushed and veined purplish-red with a large lip and erect, frilled lid, form the rosette. Five-petalled, purple flowers up to 5 cm across are borne well above the pitchers in spring. A captivating and widely grown carnivorous plant for a very moist, acid, sunny position.
About the genus
Sarracenia, the pitcher plants, are evergreen or herbaceous, rhizomatous perennials with rosettes of phyllodes modified into insect-catching, tubular pitchers with hooded lids, and solitary, nodding, cup-shaped flowers in spring. Grown in very moist, acid, nutrient-poor soil in full sun.
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeLoam
Soil pHAcid
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Poorly-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH6
Plant details
Plant typeBogs, Conservatory Greenhouse, Houseplants
HabitClump forming, Columnar upright, Matforming
FoliageEvergreen
Height0.1-0.5 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesPatio and container plants
Native toCanada USA
Care notes
CultivationGrow under glass, keep moist in full light with shelter from hot sun. Use an acidic potting medium with moss. In winter, keep slightly drier, cool and well ventilated. Irrigate with lime-free water. They will generally lose some of their leaves over winter during a period of dormancy. Most Sarracenias can be grown outside in milder parts of the country, but care should be taken in colder conditions. Choose a position in full sun, sheltered from cold winds. See carnivorous plant cultivation
PruningNo pruning required. Remove dead leaves as necessary
PropagationPropagate by seed or by division
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to scale insects, mealybugs, aphids and tortrix moth caterpillars
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free